Know Your Roots

     I climbed many trees in my youth.  I remember the overwhelming thrill and accomplishment after reaching the peak.  Birds would cheer me on as I ascended past their carefully constructed nests.  In autumn, the leaves often whispered a sense of serenity in the wind, reflecting the color of fall in the sky.  Branches transformed into monkey bars on a jungle gym exposing an endless world of challenges.  The seasons changed but the rooted giants never did.  As I grew older, I noticed the trees never strayed from their passive yet lively routines, instead they watched me grow my own roots.

      This summer I saved someone's life.  It was a sudden rush and my actions were closer to instinct than courage.  An older man slipped off his boat while a line was caught on his arm.  The boat proceeded to drag him further away from the dock and out to sea.  I was in full stride when I heard his wife crying for help.  I visualized my tree branches as I leapt off the dock.  It was as though I was leaving one branch to swing onto another.  It felt natural with a cool breeze and the warm sun on my face.  I pulled the man up from the boat and made sure he was breathing right.  I was taken aback by the fear in his eyes when I brought him back to reality.  Once the old man was stable I went back to work with a new aspect on life.

      Like people, organizations rely on foundation and direction.  With the right core values and mission, organizations can change lives for the better.  Sometimes organizations are large and tall but their roots are not as deep as they seem.  In order to perform an ethical business, top-level managers, owners, and employees must gain a fair profit from their organization.  It happens too frequently when greed and power shrouds the mission of a corporation.  If the core values prove to be hollow, the organization could sink and this time there will be no scrawny boy to save them.  

      I haven't climbed those trees in years but I witness the effect they had on my childhood every day.  I swing from one situation to another in a calm and comfortable manner.  I've learned to balance my work life while I climb the rungs of the social ladder.  Although my obstacles appear differently with each situation, the view of success remains the same.  I've discovered who I am through these experiences and who I want to be as a result.